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Artisans of the New England
Artisans of the New England is a project which aims to provide a snapshot in time of the incredible bounty of talent found in the New England. When my wife and I moved to Glen Innes just over a year ago, we were blown away by the sheer volume of creative artists and artisans practising their trade here. As a fan of documentary photography, I wanted to ensure this was collected for posterity while also creating something we could use to promote the region and attract like-minded folk to move here. I’m about 15 per cent of the way through it already, and with every new subject I meet, I’m introduced to two more, so the scope keeps growing (champagne problem). But I’ll keep shooting until I reach at least 100 artists. It’s been truly awesome to meet so many fantastically skilled people joined by the common thread of just wanting to create stuff – I don’t think any one of them could stop creating even if they wanted to. It’s been quite self-affirming – as a newly minted creative myself – to meet folk who’ve been making and creating and tinkering for years and learning that, once you turn the tap of artistry on, you can’t turn it off again, only direct the flow in new directions. I want this project to open people’s eyes not only to the depth and breadth of creativity in the New England, but to make them think about picking up a camera, a brush, a hammer, whatever, and give it a go themselves. We’ve all got it within us, it’s just a matter of finding and feeding that spark.
Andrea Gledhill – artist
How did you come to live in the New England?
“I was a Sydney girl originally, but have moved all over the place. I lived in Darwin for a while before heading to the Queensland College of Art where I did my fine art degree, majoring in painting. I eventually made my way to Armidale in 1998 as a single mum with two children and have stayed ever since.”
How does life in regional NSW fuel your creative energy?
“There are opportunities begging at every corner in this region. I’ve had the great opportunity to work as an art teacher, as a curator at NERAM and more recently as part of the Armidale Art Gallery committee. But after a 22-year hiatus of actually making art myself, I picked up the brush again in 2021 and I’m now taking my art very seriously. I pinch myself every day that I get to paint and live here – it’s paradise. I’ve always loved the New England light and landscape, Armidale gives me a sense of place and it’s bursting with so many talented and productive people. It’s a thrill to be part of that.”
Name your favourite local haunt…
“My treat is to go to Uralla – I love The Alternate Root and Little Birdy, and I adore Melrose too. But to me, it’s about who you go with – that’s what makes those moments all the more special.”
Isabelle Devos – artist
How did you come to live in the New England?
“I was born in Belgium but grew up in a small rural town in Canada. My husband is Australian, from Melbourne, and neither of us had ever been to Armidale before when we decided to move here about 20 years ago. We started a new life with our family on a farm just outside of Armidale and love being part of a place where the arts and higher learning are key parts of the community.”
How does life in regional NSW fuel your creative energy?
“I love that I live near several national parks, as well as rural grazing properties full of open spaces, big skies and small towns. The wilderness is literally on our doorstep here, from New England National Park to the massive gorges at Dangars and Wollomombi Falls. I can be out in the landscape in a matter of minutes – that gives me the space to spark my imagination. The four seasons we’re able to experience here are so beautiful, too. We’ve fallen in love with this creative community, as well as the incredible mix of people who call it home.”
Name your favourite local haunt…
“I love a coffee from The Goldfish Bowl and also Kinship Kitchen. When I need fresh roasted coffee beans I go to Altitude Coffee. For my favourite delicate and sweet treats I stop in at Café Patisserie in Armidale – it reminds me so much of my European origins.”
Siobhan O’Hanlon – silversmith
How did you come to live in the New England?
“I grew up in Sydney where I initially trained as a scientist and earned my PhD in biology. After travelling around for a few years, including living in London and Sweden, I returned to Sydney where I met my (now) husband. In 2017, he was offered a job in Armidale and we made the move without ever having visited. It was a big leap, but we love it here. Now that we’ve started our family too, I think we’re here to stay.”
How does life in regional NSW fuel your creative energy?
“The pace of life is so much less intense here – it’s given me the mental space and time to pursue silversmithing as well as my teaching career. The beautiful landscape does it for me too. I’m one of those people who’ll spend an hour on a very short bushwalk because I get caught up looking at all the tiny details. I think I’m drawn to jewellery-making because of the fine detail involved. It’s so interesting to see that mirrored in nature too, and soaking up all those lines and patterns in landscapes and plants puts me in a great headspace when I’m designing.”
Name your favourite local haunt…
“I have lots! Right now I’m really loving Laneway Cafe – great coffee and lovely people. And my favourite lunch in town is from Paper Tiger. The food is just beautiful and they make anything on the menu vegetarian for me. Love it!”
Carlotta Chiesa – furniture restorer
How did you come to live in the New England?
“I grew up in Barcelona in an Italian family and studied economics and antique furniture restoration in Italy. I moved to Australia six years ago with my Australian husband and now live on a cattle farm outside of Guyra with my family.”
How does life in regional NSW fuel your creative energy?
“Moving to the country made me slow down. I’m constantly inspired just by being in nature and also feel very grateful to be surrounded by a community of such creative people.”
Name your favourite local haunt…
“One of my favourite places to grab a coffee on the go is Boobooks in Armidale, a secondhand bookshop. While I’m waiting for my coffee, I walk through the aisles in search of treasures.”
About the photographer
Jim A. Barker, Twelve Points Photography
Jim is a photography professional with panache and pleasing personality. He’s also an enthused gardener, was once a scout, then a bartender, then a PR. He specialises in event and portrait photography and is always prepared to make a drink and ensure people know about it. Jim lives in a mudbrick home on a rambling 100 acres outside of Glen Innes with his wife Jamie and their standard poodle, Joe.
